I've always read that a properly waxed trap is important if using flake antifreeze due to the corrosive nature. Any experience with how FMJ/floor polish works in protecting steel against salts/antifreeze?

After the first catch It's wore off so It's not going to protect your trap once you make a catch.

FMJ is wore off after one catch?

I've always double dipped my traps with fmj and most cases it take 2 to 3 catches to wear it off my traps. Just my experience with it.

I don’t have much experience with it. I’m a wax guy. I’d like to try it again!
How long before season does FMJ or Zeps have to be applied? Can’t remember if it has an odor! Thanks

I double dipped FMJ on new MB's I used this summer trapping yotes in farm fields. Even the ones that didnt catch are rusting real bad. I am not impressed at all and its not from rain cause we were bone dry during the trapping.

Pawnee I paint mine let then dry for a day then dip in fmj then let that dry for a day then dip again in fmj then I just leave them hang on my fence till season starts. Some hang there for a week some have been hanging there for over a month now.

There's a lot of dips on the market, such as Dakota Line's, but fmj seems to be the most popular.

When I tried zepps and paint I did it all 1 month in advance, then let them air out. there was massive amounts of rain in the forecast so I made 75% pipe dreams and 25% dirt holes. I caught only coons and possums in the pipe sets, and had a ton of traps flipped. The dirt holes were like swimming pools. After a week or so of this I set out a dozen more pipe dream sets but this time with waxed traps and started catching coyotes the second night. Later in the season I had to pull some of the paint and zepp traps out again to catch a calf killer, and with conventional bedding “ie” 3/4-1” of dirt on top of the trap they did fine in that situation. I never had any problems with corrosion until after I caught a coon, but coons will wear the finish off anything.

I guess your not coon trapper. I've seen coon remove powder coating from the trap. I don't care what you use there will be areas where that coating will be removed maybe not all of It but some of It. And those areas are prone to rust especially when your using some type of corrosive freeze proof material. Remember the OP Is talking about bedding his traps In some type of antifreeze there In It's self makes a difference.
If It were me I'd just paint them or I should say dip them In Latex paint. Then once you get some wear just power wash and re dip and they will be ready to go the next day. Well depending on your drying conditions. FMJ Is nothing but a commercial grade floor wax.

I know the question was specific to fmj and antifreeze. I don’t typically use antifreeze and haven’t since I switched to fmj. But - I have noticed fmj getting torn up/chewed off by coon. Haven’t really had an issue with coyotes and fmj it seems I can get a few catches on coyotes and not have to worry about it. With that said - I spray paint my traps now. Has lasted great for me and I haven’t noticed much issue with paint. Spray paint, dip in fmj, and set. When they get tore up or start to show some rust, I hit those particular spots with some paint, redip the whole trap and go. It has left me with some funny colored traps because the color isn’t always what was on it before but this works great for me.

If I was just targeting Canines or cats I would either powder coat all my trap (that's what I do) or just wax them. Once a waxed trap get a little wear It's easy to pull It power wash and wax the same day and be ready to go the next day.

Power wash easily removes wax, Beav? No need for that wax b gone stuff?

If it’s a glorified floor wax (and I don’t doubt it is) you should be able to make an ammonia and soap solution to take it off. Just like you mop off old floor wax.

Power washing doesn't remove the wax It just removes the dirt on the trap so It can be re waxed. Submerging the trap In the hot wax bath will remove the original wax while re waxing. This way you never get any build up like you do when re dipping with other products.